Chicago's top prosecutor subpoenaed in Jussie Smollett case

AP Photo,, No available, FILE - In this March 26, 2019, file photo, actor Jussie Smollett smiles and waves to supporters before leaving Cook County Court after his charges were dropped in Chicago. Text messages show the Chicago prosecutor whose office handled the case of "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett told her top deputy that Smollett was a "washed up celeb" who was overcharged. The office of Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx released thousands of documents from the investigation late Tuesday, April 16, 2019, in response to media requests. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago’s top prosecutor has been subpoenaed to appear in court by a retired appellate judge who’s pushing for a special prosecutor to investigate the handling of the case against actor Jussie Smollett.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Sheila O’Brien also subpoenaed Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s top deputy and requested that Smollett appear at a hearing on her request.

Foxx was harshly criticized when her office announced it was dropping charges against Smollett that accused the black, gay actor of staging a racist and anti-gay attack on himself in downtown Chicago.

Foxx has defended the decision to drop the charges and says she welcomes an independent investigation.

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Check out the AP’s complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case: https://www.apnews.com/JussieSmollett